Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-05-25
"GYP'S" DECLARATION.
An Announcement ofIndependence
and It's Consequences

IAN L say, Jeremiah, III snail never
be kept here.
We'll, well, Katherine, I'll ride over
and ask the minister TO tea, an We'll
go by his judgement in this matter, but
it does appear pity to put as clipper
a lookin' gal as that in the poor
house"
The bone Of contention in the Blym
household was babe that Pete, the
farm hand, had found, cuddled in a
blanket, sound asleep under the willow
hedge. Where it came from. or who
il belonged to, no one knew; and for
years the birth and parentage Of the
founding remained mystery.
The minister expressed the same
opinion the farmer had, that it was a
pity such child should be left to the
county poor
AYE, Sister Blym," he exclaimed,
charity will bring sure rewardH'
And so "Sister Blym," for the sake
of standing well with the minister,
kept the child. What should it be
called was the next query; and as no
one suggested a better name, because
of her jetty hair and quaint, droll
ways the farmer dubbed her Gypsey,
which was soon abbreviated to Gyp.
No motherly love did Gyp receive,
but as soon as her childish hands had
strength, labor was required, and from
the farmers wife came Il never-ceasing
refrain of the child's unworthiness.
"Gyp! Gyp! it does beat all Ez 1 was
tcllin' Jeremiah, she don't earn her
salt. Where is the gal, anyhow" And
arms akimbo she stood in the doorway
CHANGING in all directions for the one
just called.
Bounding up path which ran from
the rear Of the house To the ridge of
widc-sprcading oaks that gave the
name to the farm came the truant,
with dishevelled hair and torn dress,
with shoclcss feet, who, despite her
sunbrowncd limbs aud untidy appear
ancc, looked so picturesque with her
bright eyes and flushed cheeks that one
would have turned instinctively for a
second glance.
"Gyp!' sounded from the inner re-
gions. "wherc have YOU beenP" was
the querulous greeting as she entered
the 'oor up to Shelbyville, OF
courscr'
mo, | was not" she answered, with
All effort AT self-control. as il likely
Td 90 in this dress?" CHANGING at her
tattcred garb.
''Oh, it's more fincry, is il! Now, il
you was my Sophrona Ann, with a
schoolmastcr for beau, you might ask
for better fiXin's, but I'll teach you to
BE- satisfied" And the strong hand OF
the woman came down in rapid blows,
not the first the poor girl had received
in her young life. Are you shocked,
kind reader? Gyp is n character drawn
from life, and we, knowing the hard
ness and bitterness of her earlier years,
rejoice at the sunshine that came later.
But, contrary to all prior experience
of Mrs. Blym, the young girl, who
heretofore received the unjust punish
mcnts with the stolidity of an OK, now
turned like tigress, and, with such
swift dexterty that they could not be
avoided, raincd blow after blow upon
the eyes, mouth and temple of the in
furiated woman.
"Help! she called, realizing for once
IL her life she was getting the worst OF
a bargain.
What is the mattcrp' asked So
phronia, appearing upon the scene, but
before reply was given the farmer en-
tered.
What nowP" said he, seeing the
signs of unusual turmoil depicted upon
the faces of all present.
"Oh, Jeremiah" exclaimed his wife,
"Gyp will be the death of me yet.
Look ut my face! and it's all your
fault, Jeremiah, for you're Away.
takin' her part agin me-"
Farmer Blym carefully scanned his
wife's countcnance, then, turning tc
the perpctrator of the deed, who stood
with quivering limbs and flashing eyes,
asked:
What have YOU to say, GYPSY
had not expected this of YOU"
What have / to sayp Muchr' and
II seemed to the lookers-on that the
"foundling," as she had often beer
tauntingly called, arose inches in
height and years in womanhood
"This woman has abused me for tn,
last time; henceforth / receive proper
treatment at your hands, or / go ou
into the world to conquer fate as bes
] mayr'
What was there in the ringing voic,
OF the speaker, the tone Of command
first assumed by the child, that con
qucrcd alp II meant the slave sha,
broken her bonds, and declared free
dom from tyrannical rule.
Katherine, give the girl her rights
or she shall surely goT' said tn,
farmer, turning to leave the room.
Gyp to go! that was consideration
not to be thought of. She remembered
the quick step and nimble fingers tina
could accomplish more in one day thar
Sophronia in week; and, wise to he
own advantage, concluded to ovcrlool
the present and change her tactics.
well, what DO you wsntp" in
Modified tone.
Every thing! clothes, and chanc'
70 become some one in the worldr'
Thus 1t happened that Gyp, the waif
fought her own battle and won in tn
conflict. Farmer Blym had Away
endeavorcd TO be kind to the child, pu
he was meek man, striving for peace
In his own household, where discor
nan riot and IA ha had failsd In Oh